Breaking News from Lehigh Valley

Scheduled starter Carlos Carrasco, shortstop Jason Donald and catcher Lou Marson have all been scratched from the lineup for this morning’s game between the Iron Pigs and Columbus. This almost certainly means that a trade is very much in the works. Stay tuned for more details as they come in.

UPDATE (1:24 PM):Yahoo! Sports reports that the Phillies appear to be “on the verge” of acquiring Cliff Lee from the Indians for Carrasco, Jason Knapp and at least two of Donald, Marson and Michael Taylor.

Actually this almost means nothing of the sort. Marson getting the day off because it is a day game after a night game, Donald getting off because he played yesterday after just coming off the DL makes sense. I can not explain Carrasco but just because they were scratched doesn’t mean anything specific. I hope its because of a trade but nothing indicates that.

It could be exactly that, rest for a catcher and a recently-injured shortstop. But there’s no real reason to pull Carrasco out of the start, especially considering Cleveland had scouts there to see him pitch. It could mean the Jays accepted the Phils initial offer of Happ/Carrasco/Donald/Marson, or that the Phillies are willing to replace Happ with Drabek in that deal. Based on what’s going around it seems most likely that the 3 will be headed to Cleveland for Cliff Lee, though.

ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark notes that three Indians scouts were in Lehigh Valley to watch the Phillies’ Triple A team this morning. As we noted earlier, Carlos Carrasco was scratched from today’s start and Stark says it was without explanation. Stark hears from a source close to the Indians who denies that the team is close to making a major move.

The Phillies and Indians have been involved in discussions, but haven’t yet exchanged medical reports on players. One possible package would send Carrasco, a top position player, Jason Knapp and Trevor May to the Indians for Lee. The Phils tell other teams they believe they can deal for Lee without giving up Kyle Drabek or Dominic Brown.

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If we could get Lee without giving up Drabek or Brown I would be thrilled with that. Not a fan that he is another lefty but he is cheaper which allows us to plug other holes.

Yesterday, Billy King said that if he knew that he was going to be trading someone, he would sit them to make sure that they did not get hurt… sounds like that’s what they’re doing with Carlos. This all seems really strange considering the Indians had scouts in attendance… it does seem like they would want those guys to play if that were the case. Maybe things have truly progressed with someone else… if the Indians sent a scout to see Carrasco, Marson and/or Donald and the LV Pigs sat them, that tells me that there’s a breach in communication between them.

FOXSports.com reports 18-year-old right-hander Jason Knapp is the “centerpiece” of the Phillies’ offer to the Indians for Cliff Lee.

Knapp is currently sidelined on the Single-A leve with shoulder stiffness, but his upside according to one scout “is greater than [Kyle] Drabek’s.” The same scout referred to the 6-foot-5 Knapp as a “[Roy] Halladay clone.” Carlos Carrasco is also thought to be involved in the offer. Stay tuned.

Who from Fox sports? For the record, I still thinks it Halladay. In related news, there is an AP report that Rogers Communications, who own the Jays, do not like the financial direction the Jays are going in. Its on page 74 of the Daily news. By the way, the name of their CEO is Nadir Mohamed, which should tell you all you need to know about how much RC cares about the Jays as a contending team and not a incomer earner.

According to FOXSports.com, the Phillies have officially made an offer to the Indians for left-hander Cliff Lee.
Single-A right-hander Jason Knapp is the centerpiece, with Triple-A right-hander Carlos Carrasco, shortstop Jason Donald and catcher Lou Marson rounding out the rest of the package. It’s a decent crop of talent, but nowhere near the asking price for Toronto’s Roy Halladay. Stay tuned.

Lee fro Knapp, Carrasco, Donald and Marson. That is a good deal not to mention Lee is younger than Halladay and makes less money for which phillies could acquire someone else. For me this totally kills Halladay cmin to Philly. I think Roy will stay in Toronto. If Lee gets traded then he would start Friday in San Fran.

Ya think jj? You don’t think we’ll trade for both? If we make this deal JP Ricciardi gets fired THE NEXT DAY. Bring a box for your belongings. Take the pictures off your wall. Negotiate a severance package. Then call Billy Beane and ask him if he needs a scout for the Dominican Republic. I do not want to put Marson in the package. I love that kid.

I am not comfortable with Phillies going at Lee at all, unless they plan on getting BOTH Lee AND Martinez in the deal so we can send Bako on the first train out of here. Trust me! The Jays realize they are NOT going to get both Happ and Drabek. If I was Amaro I would part with Drabek if thats what it takes. When the smoke clears I just pray that Halladay will be in a Phils uniform by Friday.

I am so tired of people whining thats too much for anybody. By the time drabek is a 1 or 2 starter. Which is probably abotu a 20% chance can you promise me we will still have Chase and Ryan and Shane?
if we dont get halladay we have to get lee.

Since i doubt anyone who pposts here is a professional scout or assistant GM I doubt you know who is really good.

Make a deal. The phillies are champs and can repeat. I will support whatever deal it is now. I presonaly like the Lee deal more. Lee probably is just as good for us.

I can’t wait until the trading deadline is over and we can just get back to talking about how smoking hot the Phils have been this month. Last year I don’t think anyone was all that excited about the Blanton deal and look how that turned out. You just never know… Plus, WFC and all that!

soo.. after we get lee… we still have drabek happ and brown… lets go for the throat… get greedy… get halladay too!!!! pedro and myers to the pen… hamels halladay lee blanton moyer…
hey… i can dream can’t I?

Is left-handed… and Halladay would probably go to the Red Sox if we get Lee.. meaning that I don’t exactly like our chances to beat them if we meet in the World Series. If Halladay doesn’t leave Toronto, and we get Cliff Lee, its a good deal … but why not go after THE BEST pitcher out there. And make your chances to repeat as high as you possibly can

Halladay’s Major League ERA 3.45, is better than his Minor League 3.84… same with his MLB WHIP = 1.20, compared to Minor League = 1.31

Lee’s numbers in the Majors aren’t as good as they were in the Minors
ERA = 4.01 vs. 3.36
WHIP = 1.31 vs. 1.26

Chase calm down man. Pedro can help bolster our Bullpen or replace Moyer if needed.

This is such a good trade if everyone takes a minute to look at it, instead of thinking about how much they’d rather have Halladay over Lee.

The Dodgers don’t want to give the Jays what they want for Halladay but thought they could get Lee cheaper. Lee murders left handed hitting which would be a huge problem for the Phils when we meet up in the playoffs. We not only get to improve our lineup, but we get to stop the Dodgers from improving theirs.

The Phils get to add another legitimate #1 (i’ll grant not as good as Halladay, but still a top 10- top 15 pitcher in all of baseball), it doesn’t cost them Happ from the current roster, or their top pitching prospect in Drabek! This is a steal and it’s a genius move. If this deal goes down as is for Knapp, Carrassco, Donald & Marson then Ruben has made a huge upgrade for a team that’s starting to click.

Another minor thought is that since Cliff lee costs significantly less money the Phils will have flexibility to also hunt for that much needed righthanded bat (assuming that’s not the player to be named later in the Lee deal). And possibly more Bullpen help.

SDO,
just fyi: last time Lee faced the Red Sox, he pitched 8 shutout innings……

I’d be all for the Lee deal. Only one thing gives me pause: his success (or lack thereof) against right-handed batters.

The key for him seems his ability to get righties out. Last season, righties batted just .240 against him and he was awesome. This season they’re batting over .300, with a .400 slugging percentage. He’s surrendered 9 of his 10 home runs to righties. He’s pitched well this year, but not as good as last year. Right handers have done most of the damage.

I”m not familiar enough with his stuff to know how he attacks right-handers usually or why the numbers are off this season. Does he have an out-pitch against righties that isn’t working?

Anyone know?

That’s a little scary when you think about the short-porch in left-field at CBP…..

12:42pm: Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi report that the sides have agreed to a deal that sends Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco to Philly for Jason Knapp, Carlos Carrasco, Jason Donald and Lou Marson. The teams still have to examine medical records for the deal to go through.

from fox sports : The Phillies have reached agreement with the Indians on a trade that would bring them left-hander Cliff Lee and outfielder Ben Francisco for Class A right-hander Jason Knapp, Class AAA right-hander Carlos Carrasco, shortstop Jason Donald and catcher Lou Marson, according to major-league sources.

The Phillies have reached agreement with the Indians on a trade that would bring them left-hander Cliff Lee and outfielder Ben Francisco for Class A right-hander Jason Knapp, Class AAA right-hander Carlos Carrasco, shortstop Jason Donald and catcher Lou Marson, according to major-league sources.

I am good with this. Especially since we get a right handed bat…and we keep Happ and Drabek. Happ is a good 4th or 5th starter that we have control of for like 5 more years. Hopefully we can resign Lee to an extension assuming he warrants and wants one.

If the Lee& Fransisco for Carrasco, Knapp, Marson & Donald deal is for real that’s fantastic work by Amaro. It’s giving up a lot but that’s always going to be the case for a guy of Lee’s ilk and getting a second guy who’s a legit 25 man roster guy is great work. If its a prelude to someone else dealing for Halladay without giving up the farm that’s gonna be a great shame but on the face of it it’s a win for the Phils.

it’s a fair trade, the phils are giving up a lot of young talent but are getting good players back in return. i’m not crazy about lee and think he’s overrated but he’s definitely an upgrade. still would have much rather they traded for halladay. i don’t understand keeping taylor and brown in the system, neither of which we have an immediate need for, while trading away two pitching prospects that could have fit holes that the phillies will need to fill in the next season or two. also sad to see marson go, hopefully he turns into a big league catcher.

I stand corrected. If you receive Lee for that package I have to say it’s much less than I expected. Kudos to your GM, but I’m happy JP didn’t give Doc up for that. I’d rather keep him, even if it might seem ultimately pointless.